The official opening of the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) in Benin City, Nigeria has been indefinitely postponed following protests that disrupted a pre-opening event.
This development followed the disruption of a private preview event for donors and industry professionals on a Sunday. The venue was disrupted by protesters, some reportedly armed with wooden bats. Guests, including foreign dignitaries, were forced to take shelter and were later safely escorted away.
MOWAA issued an immediate press statement to cancel the opening ceremony while reaffirming its non-political affiliation.
“Earlier today, a protest took place on the MOWAA campus in Benin City,” the statement reads. “The demonstration appeared to stem from disputes between the previous and current state administrations. While MOWAA was mentioned in the wider context of these grievances- alongside other development projects- we wish to emphasize that MOWAA is an independent, non-profit institution, of which the former governor has no interest, financial or otherwise.
“As a precaution, all guests were safely escorted to secure locations and supported in continuing their travels to hotels, airports or other destinations in the city. The safety and well-being of our staff, visitors and partners remains our highest priority. We are working closely with local authorities to address the situation.
“We are deeply grateful to all our guests- many of whom travelled long distances to be here- for their understanding, patience and resilience. We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this situation may have caused including interruptions to travel plans or scheduled visits. Your commitment to being with us means a great deal and we regret that your experience today was disrupted.”
The core of the protest seems to be a dispute over the ownership, control, and naming of the museum, which was partly established to house the repatriated Benin Bronzes (stolen during the 19th-century British raid).
The museum facility has sparked tensions between the former state governor (who supported the project) and the current state administration, which is allied with the city’s traditional ruler, Oba Ewuare II.
The Oba of Benin insists that the museum should be under royal oversight and should be recognised as the Benin Royal Museum, arguing that a project for the repatriated artefacts must remain under the custodianship of the Benin Kingdom.
MOWAA’s management states that it is an independent, non-profit institution and that its independence was intentionally established to safeguard it from political cycles and maintain its international reputation.
As a result, all further preview events and the official opening have been cancelled, and MOWAA has advised against non-essential travel to the campus until the situation is resolved.
The protests appear to be an escalation of long-standing disagreements regarding who has the right to manage the cultural heritage and the eventual home of the returning Benin Bronzes. This incident raises concerns on the future of development projects and the safety of repatriated cultural artefacts.
